Umar hits out at Omar

‘NC scared of separatist politics’; AAC to announce fresh program

Lashing out at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for “directing the police and administration to scuttle the Awami Action Committee (AAC) march,” the Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said National Conference (NC) and its leaders are afraid of separatist politics.  He said the government should understand that it is fueling alienation by choking the space for pro-freedom leaders.
The AAC had called for a march from Jamia Masjid to Municipal Park here to commemorate the party’s golden jubilee. However, the authorities imposed restrictions in old city besides detaining dozens of Hurriyat (M) leaders and AAC activists. 
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Hurriyat (M) chairman, who also heads AAC, said it is very unfortunate that the entire state machinery is used to make the political rallies of mainstream leaders successful. “However, when it comes to separatists, the same machinery changes color on the directions of Chief Minister to scuttle their programs,” Mirwaiz said, adding, the government is afraid of separatist politics as “people have a commitment with the freedom movement.”
He said imposing curbs on the political rallies of Hurriyat and other pro-freedom leaders will have serious implications. “What can the government expect from general public and youth when it chokes the space for peaceful rallies?” he asked.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister, Mirwaiz said Omar has developed a habit of apologizing for things he does intentionally. “It is like you commit a mistake intentionally and then say sorry for the same,” he said. “I believe the highhandedness and the vindictive approach of the government would result in the mass public anger. The government has been following only one policy that of crushing the genuine sentiment through police and other forces.”
He said in Kashmir, Chief Minister and his team of ministers were “acting like agents” of agencies. “Here we have a government of the agencies, by the agencies and for the agencies,” Mirwaiz said.
He said it is not for the first time the government has foiled the programs of AAC and Hurriyat as the process is on right from 1947. “NC is the only party that has ruled the state for most of the time since the Partition. It has always brought miseries for the people,” he said. 
Mirwaiz said separatists deserve political space.  “We held a series of rallies ahead of our June 20 program and all were very peaceful. Why we were not allowed to commemorate 50 years of AAC is strange and only Chief Minister can explain this?”  
He said not a single incident of violence or stone pelting was reported during the rehearsal of AAC’s June 20 program last week. 
Mirwaiz also criticized the government for not allowing Friday congregational prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid. “All roads were blocked with concertina wires and movement of people was curbed. What kind of democracy would one expect at a place where you don’t have a right to offer Friday prayers?” he asked.
Mirwaiz said the AAC and the Hurriyat won’t be cowed down by the ‘dictatorial’ approach of the government. “At least 200 Hurriyat leaders and AAC activists have been detained by the police, which is a highly condemnable act,” he said. Mirwaiz said AAC will soon hold a meeting to announce fresh date to celebrate 50 years of its foundation.  “And if government continues to impose restrictions again, we will be left with no option but to defy the same,” he said.

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